Condition measuring apparatus



May 25, 1943- J. w. MYERS v 2,320,311

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CONDITION MEASURING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 20, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 25, 1943. J. w. MYERS 2,320,311

CONDITION MEASURING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 20, 1942 3 Sheets--SheeiI 3 Patented May 25, 1943 UNITED .STATES PATENT osi-lcs :.mu comimos mamma ArrAaA'rUs Joseph W. Myers, Philadelphia, Pa.

Anneau.- Jmury zo, mz. seran No. 421,51:

s claim. ci. '1s-aas) 'Ihis invention relates to apparatus for measuring and indicating a variable condition, such as temperature. The present application is intended to cover certain divisible subject matter of a copending application of Elliott J. Stoddard and Joseph W. Myers, Serial No. 227,542, filed August 30, 1938. The said divisible subject matter is a sole invention of the present applicant.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a novel measuring and indicating apparatus embodying a pair of indicating devices which are operated alternately during successive time intervals of predetermined duration.

A more specic object of the invention is to embody such apparatus in an integrating device of the type disclosed in the above-mentioned joint application.

In the accompanying drawims:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of an apparatus embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is an elevation, the front of the casing being removed. The apparatus back of the line II-II, Figure 3, is not shown in this view;

Figure 3 is a section substantially in the plane indicated by the line III-DI, ligure 2;

Figure 4 is a detail section in the plane indicated by the line IV-IV, Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a perspective illustrating a detail;

Figure 6 is a section on the line VI-VI, Figure 2;

Figure 7 is an escapement that may be used in said apparatus;

Figure 8 is a second form of escapement; and

Figure 9 is a pendulum that may be used.

The drawings are somewhat diagrammatic especially in that some parts which are conventional and well known. such as journals, are omitted'from the drawings for the sake of clearness.

I, Figure 1, is a. casing having the observation openings 2, 3, 4, l and 9 through the face thereof. 1, is a pivoted arm which may be turnedl to cover the opening 2 or l as desired. The opening 2 is distinguished by the word Minus": 3 by the Word Plus; 4 by Elapsed days hrs.; and 5 and 6 by the legend True average yesterday to indicate the significance of the mures that appear through them. 2 and 2 are further described by the legend Accumulated degreeday units. l referring to elapsedi days and hours.

S (Figure 3) indicates a standard clockwork keeping the correct time, and T a clockwork in which a regulating member, for instance, the balance or pendulum, is made sensitive to heat -tion of the temperature.

I is a shaft of the clockwork S, turning one revolution in twelve hours, and 9 is a corresponding shaft of the clockwork T, arranged axially in line with the shaft 9 and turning in the opposite direction at a rate that varies from that of the shaft 9 as the temperature varies from a datum point which may be taken as zero degrees Fahrenheit, that is to say, the shafts 9 and 9 turn at the same rate at 0 degrees F. but in opposite directions. Means for securing said variation will be hereinafter described in connection with Figures 7, 8 and 9.

Il is a differential mechanismbetween the shafts 9 and 9. Il is a pinion keyed upon the casing of the differential I 9 surrounding and coaxial with the shaft 9 of the clockwork T. I2 is a shaft extending at right angles to the shaft 9 and having a conical gear wheel I 3 thereon engaging the bevel pinion Il.

I4 is a conventional mechanical counter, the numbers of which may be seen through the opening I in the face of the casing I (Figure l) I-II designates gearing between the wheel I2 and the shaft ll of the counter Il, adapted to cause 144 revolutions of said shaft to one revolution of the pinion I I and the casing of the differential Ill.

I1 (Figure 2) is a second mechanical counter located above the counter I4, and I 9 and I9 are gear wheels connecting the shafts I9 of said counters so that they shall turn at the same rate but in opposite directions.

I'he numbers of the counter Il appear through the opening 2 (Figure l) in the face of the casing I.

In Figures 7 and 8 conventional escapement mechanisms are illustrated, but the rim of the balance is of thermostatic material arranged to increase or decrease the radius of gyration and therefore the 'rate of movement of the clockwork T from that indicating the correct time as the temperature varies from a datum point which may be taken as zero degrees Fahrenheit.

In Figure 9, a hollow pendulum 29 is shown having a cylindrical tube 2I extending through and above it and opening to the interior of said pendulum near its lower wall. The axial opening through said tube is very small and the suspension rod 22 of the pendulum fits and slides therein. 'Ihere is a quantity of mercury in the pendulum 29 covering the lower end of the tube 2i, and the rest of the interior of the pendulum is filled with alcohol.

If the cross-section of the'suspension rod is so small that the weightofthe pendulum will not be sustained by atmospheric `pressure tension springs 23 may be interposed between the pendulum and suspension rod 22. 'I'he volume of the alcohol will vary with the temperature and thiswill causevthe pendulum to slide uP or down on the suspension rod 22. Of course this principle and construction may be used to vary the radius of gyration in the balance of the escapement. The object is to vary the rate, or speed, of the clock with vthe temperature. which may be in a direct proportion.

2l, is al mechanical counter, the numbers of which appear through the opening I (Figure 1) in the face of the casing I. The counter 24 is actuated by the shaft 8,-thrugh a shaft 25 extending at right angles to the shaft l and gear wheels 2l, 21 and 2l on said shafts which are so proportioned that the elapsed time will be indicated by the counter 2l in days and hours.

The variation of the temperature-sensitive clock fromv the actual time will be due to two factors: the difference in the rate of movement from the standard clock, which will depend upon the temperature; and, the time such difference has obtained. Both of these factors are integrated and indicated, as the aggregate difierence between the two clockworks for a given period of time in the above described apparatus and, as the actual lapse of time is knownthe tion of the diiferential casing Il, and the counter is constructed to show ten numbers for each revolution of its shaft, one half revolution of the differential casing will cause the counters to indicate 7 20 units plus or minus. v`

The purpose of having the two counters I4 and I1 is to indicate negative degree-dayfunits where the temperature has been-more below zero than above, as, for example, in the Arctic region or other cold localities. If the apparatus were started in such a locality with both counters at zero readings, the negative counter would start to accumulate minus degree-day units while the positive counter would be operating backward and would show large numbers, for example 99900. at which time the minus counter would show 100. The true reading is obviously on the counter with the smallest number; and since the counters read to ve places, it is estimated that in any one year the smallest number would always be the correct reading.

The apparatus described thus far forms the subject of the above-mentioned joint application, and no claim is made thereto in this application except in combination with the apparatus now to be described whichds the subject of the present application. 1 s

2l and Il (Figures 2 and 4) are discs upon parallel and spaced shafts. In Figure 2, these are broken away to show the apparatus behind them. Each of these discs is provided with a scale numbered from 50 below zero to 125 above. representing degree-dayl units. These discs are so located that the upper figures of their scales come before the openings 5 and 6 (Figure l).

29a and Ila, are rubber friction wheels on the shafts of the discs 2l and I0. 29h and 30h. are weights secured to the ends of arms extending radially from the shafts of the discs 2l and 2li respectively, so that they shall cause said discs when free to turn to the position at which the (zeros of their scales shall come opposite the openings I and I inthe casing I.

II, is a lever arm pivoted upon the shaft I2 at its upper end and normally extending vertically downward midway between the friction wheels 29a and Ila. l2 is a friction wheel on a shaft I3 bearing in the lever arm 2|, so that said wheel shall engage the wheel 29a, or the wheel ila, according as said lever arm shall swing to the right or left of its central position. 34 is a gear wheel on the shaft Il. 35 is a second gear wheel pivoted upon the lever arm 3i and engaging the gear wheels Il and Ita. It is a snap-over spring adapted to throw the lever arm to the right or left as it passes the center. l1 is a shield upon the lever arm JI, 4adapted to cover one of the openings 5 or 6 at the end of its travel andleave the other uncovered.

Il and 4l are bell crank-levers pivoted upon stationary supports 0I, each lever having a weighted arm extending horizontally outward and an arm extending vertically downward and provided with a brake-shoe 39a ork Illa adapted to engage,` respectively, the peripheries of the discs 2l and 3l. l] and l2, are bell crank levers pivoted at the lower ends of the'downwardiy extending arms of the levers 39 and 40, respectively,` each of said bell crank levers including an arm extending horizontally inward and an arm extending vertically downward. Sla, is a pin extending horizontally outward from the lever arm 2l at its lower end. Each of the horizontal arms of the levers 4I and 42 is provided with a notch Il at its lower edge and inner end extending outwardly and forming a shoulder at its outer end. The levers 4I and I2 rest with their. horizontal arms upon the pin Ila.

.4lare stationary lugs adapted to be engaged by the downwardly extending portions of the levers l I and l2 to turn said levers about their pivots l2 and 03,

The lever arm 2l is shifted every 24 hours to cause the friction wheel 32 to engage the friction wheel 22a or Ila to rotate the dise 29 or n, respectively, by means of the mechanism shown most distinctly in Figures 2 and 3.

The shaft 2l (Figures 3 and 5), is geared down at its inner end to rotate once in 48 hours and at its outer end is adapted to rotate the shaftof the counter 2l once in twenty-four hours. 4I, is a disc keyed upon the shaft 25 and driven thereby so as tn complete one revolution in forty-eight hours, i. e. to complete one half of a revolution in twenty-four hours. I6, is a disc adapted to rotate upon the shaft 25 once in three hours. and l1 is a similar disc adapted to rotate about said shaft once in onehour. The gearing to securethisresultisshowninFisure 3. InFigure 5, u, Il indicate V-shaped notches, cut in the peripheries of the discs 45, and 41, which come into alinement at points degrees apart alternately every twenty-four hours. In Figure 2, 4l and 50 are lever arms pivoted at Il, extending downwardly on opposite sides of the series of discs 4I, 44, and 41.7each of said lever arms being provided with a lug 52 adapted to enter the notches 43, 43, 43, when said notches are in alinement, but excluded therefrom when any one of said notches is out of alinement with the others. 53, is a tension spring tending to draw the lower ends of the arms 43 and 53 together. 54, is a shifting rod secured at one end to the swinging arm 3|, and at the other end provided with a pin 54a that is located between the lower ends of the arms 49 and 50.

'I'he operation of the mechanism just described is, as follows:

In Figure 2, the notches 48 in the discs 45, 45. 41 have come into alinement at the left of said discs, admitting the lug 52 of the arm 43 into said alined notches. The spring 53 has drawn the arm 49 to the right carrying the rod 54 with it and thereby drawing the swinging arm 3l with it. As said arm passes its central position the snap-over spring 36 acts upon it to press thev periphery of the wheel 32 against the periphery of the friction wheel 29a. The disc 23 will be driven by the gearing I5, 35, 34, 32 and 23a at such a rate that one unit of its scale will pass in front of the opening as each degree-day unit is indicated by the counterr i4.

The brake-shoes 39a and 40a are pressed against the peripheries of the discs 29 and 3l by their weighted levers 39 and 40 hard enough to prevent their automatic rotation by the weights 23h and 30h, but not hard enough to prevent the rotating of said discs by the friction wheel 32.

The disc 41 turning one revolution per hour, will now force the arm 49 outward to the position shown in broken lines in Figure 2, by the cam-like action of the side of its notch 43 upon the face of the lug 52, thus tensioning the spring 53, and the discs 45, 46 and 41 will hold the arm 43 in this position until the notches again come into alinement at this place. When, after about twenty-four hours, the notches, 48, 43, 43 begin to come into alinement at the right hand side of the series of discs 45l 45 and 41, the lug 52 on the arm 50 will begin to enter said notches and said arm will be slowly drawn to the left by the spring 53, thus acting through the rod 54 f to sv'ing the arm 3l to the left. 'I'he pin 31a will engage the shoulder at the outer end of the notch 43 of the lever 42 to swing the lever 43 to the left carrying the brake-shoe 40a away from the periphery of the disc and permitting the weight 30h to carry said disc back to the position in which the zero of its scale is opposite the opening 5 in the face of the casing I. On the further movement of the lever arm 3l, the vertical arm of the lever 42 contacts a stationary lug 44 which turns said lever about its pivot 63 and raises the shoulder of the slot 43 freeing the pin 3io and permitting the friction wheel 32 to pass into engagement with the friction wheel 30a, and the brake-shoe a to return into engagement with the periphery of the disc 30.

In the drawings it is assumed that the disc 30 has recorded units for the previous day, which number is exposed through the opening 5 in the face of the casing l. The shield 31 has uncovered the opening 5 and covered the opening 5 while the disc 29 1s building up its tindication for the then current day. When the arm 3l is shifted over so that the friction wheel 32 is pressed against the friction wheel 35a by the spring 33, the shield 31 is removed from before the opening I, the disc 2l is held by the brakeyshoe 33a. in the position the friction wheel 32 has left it at the end of the previous day and the indication for that day is exposed to view through the opening 5. Thus, while the indication for one day is being built up its indication is covered and the indication for the previous day is exposed to view.

I claim:

1. In combination, a first driving means having a constant rate of movement, a second driving means having the same rate of movement as said nrst driving means at a certain datum point but variable in response to a condition and in proportion thereto when the condition varies from such datum point, a driven means operable by said two driving means in proportion to the diil'erential movement of said two driving means. a pair of indicator devices, and means operated solely by said first driving means for alternately connecting and disconnecting said indicator devices to and from said driven means during successive time intervals of predetermined duration.

2. In combination, a ilrst driving means having a constant rate of movement, a second driving means having the same rate of movement as said first driving means at a certain datum point but variable inrresponse to a condition and in proportion thereto when the condition varies from such datum point, a driven means operable by said two driving means in proportion to the differential movement of said two driving means, a pair of indicator devices, means operated solely by said first driving means for alternately connecting and disconnecting said indicator devices to and from said driven means during successive time intern vals ofk predetermined duration, and means for obstructing the indication of the connected indicator device so that only the disconnected device gives a visible indication.

3. In combination, a first driving means having a constant rate of movement, a second driving means having the same rate of movement as said first driving means at a certain datum point but variable in response to a condition and in PrOPOrtion thereto when the condition varies from such datum point, a driven means operable by said two driving means in proportion to the dinerential movement of said two driving means, a pair of movable indicator elements, means operated solely by said ilrst driving means for alternately connecting and disconnecting said indicator elements to and from said ldriven means for alternate operation thereof by said driven means during successive time intervals of predetermined duration, means for holding each indicator element in its final position during the subsequent operation of the other indicator element, and means for returning each indicator element to its initial position at the end of the interval during which the other indicator element has been operated.

4. In combination, a first driving means having a constant rate of movement, a second driving means having the same rate of movement as said rst driving means at a certain datum point but variable in response to a condition and in proportion thereto when the condition varies from such datum point, a driven means operable by said two driving means in proportion to the differential movement of said two driving means, a pair of movable indicator elements, means operated solely by said first driving means for alternately connecting said indicator elements to and from said driven means for alternate operation thereof by said driven means during successive time intervals of predetermined duration, a pair oi' windows through which said indicator elements may be observed, and means for covering the window of the connected indicator element so that the disconnected indicator element only is visible at any time.

5. In combination, a rst driving means having a constant rate of movement, a second driving means having the same rate of movement as said nist driving means at a certain datum point but variable in response to a condition and in proportion thereto when the condition varies from such datum point, a driven means operable by said two driving means in proportion to the diierential movement of said two driving means, a pair of indicator devices, means for connecting either of said indicator devices to said driven means, a series of coaxial discs having notches in their peripheries and rotatable by said rst driving means at different rates so as to bring said notches into alinement periodically on opposite sides of the discs alternately, a pair of arms disposed respectively on opposite sides of said discs and yieldingly urged toward the discs, said arms having lugs adapted to enter said notches when the latter are alined, and means operable by said arms for actuating said connecting means, whereby said indicator devices are alternately connected to said driven means during successive time intervals of predetermined duration.

6. In combination, a first driving means having a constant rate of movement, a second driving means having the same rate of movement as said ilrst driving means at a certain datum point but variable in response to a condition and in proportion thereto when the condition varies from such datum point, a driven means operable by said two driving means in proportion to the diierential movement of said two driving means, a pair of indicator devices, means for connecting either oi.' said indicator devices to said driven means, a serlesof coaxial discs having notches in their peripheries and rotatable by said first driving means at diierent rates so as to bring said notches .into'alinenent periodicallyY on oppositeY `for actuating said connecting means-"whereby said indicator devices are alternately connected to said driven means during successive time intervals of predetermined duration, and means for holding each o! said indicator devices in its Anal operated position during operation of the other device and for releasing the device being held when the other device reaches its final position.

7. In combination, a iii-st driving means having a constant rate of movement, a second driving means having the same rate oi' movement as said ilrst driving means at a certain temperature datum point but variable in response to temperature and in proportion thereto when the temperature varies from such datum point, a driven means operable by said two driving means in proportion to the differential movement of said two drivingmeans, a pair of indicator devices, and means operated solely by said rlrst driving means for alternately connecting and disconnecting said indicator devices to'and from said driven means during successive time intervals of predetermined duration.

8. In an apparatus of the kind described, two movable parts adapted to give indications for shorter periods than the main apparatus, means for alternately connecting said parts to the main apparatus to be operated thereby, and actuating means for said connecting means consisting or a series of coaxial discs having notches in their peripheries rotated at dierent rates so that said notches shall come into alinement periodically o n opposite sides of said coaxial discs alternately, arms yieldingly urged toward said discs, one on each side thereof, said arms having lugs adapted to enter said notches when said notches are alined and thereby to actuate said connecting means.

9. In an apparatus oi the kind described, two movable parts adapted to give indications for shorter periods than the main apparatus, fmeans for alternately connecting and disconnecting said parts to the main apparatus to be operated thereby, an actuating means for said connecting and disconnecting means consisting of a series of coaxial discs having notches in their peripheries rotated at diiTerent rates so that said notches shallcome into alinement periodically on opposite sides of said coaxial discs alternately, arms yieldingly urged toward said discs, one on each side thereof; said arms having lugs adapted to enter said notches whensaid notches are @alinedand 'thereby' to actuatesaid mconnecting and vdisconnecting means, means for holding each oi' said movableparts in its naLoperated vposition yand for .releasing the sametorbe automatically returnedto its initial position. said holding and releasing means being operated by said connecting and disconnecting means.

f VJositrn w. MYERS. 

